upland plover july-august 2016

7/25/2019 Upland Plover July-August 2016

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Publication of the North Country Bird Club Inc. Since 1948

July / August 2016 Volume 57 No. 4

The

Upland

lover

FIELD TRIPS -2016 SeasonAnnual Picnic (Brouse Preserve): Sun, July 10 -1:00 pm

Marlowe Camp, Beartown: Sat, July 23 -8:30 amPerch River WMA: Sat, August 20 -8:30 am

(please note change of date)Montezuma South: Sat, Sept 17 -8:30 amMontezuma North: Sat, Oct 15 -8:30 am

SPRING BIRD CENSUS

Please return your Spring Bird Census form tothe Editor as soon as possible. Forms may bemailed to Bill Haller, PO Box 6, Dexter, NY 13634,or sent electronically to [email protected].

FALL MEETINGS

Remembertonotethedatesofourfallmeetingsonyourcalendar.Meetings are held at Stone Presbyterian Church (140 ChestnutSt, Watertown) and begin at 7:00 pm. Meeting dates are:

Wednesday, September 14

Wednesday, October 12

Wednesday, November 9

Please note:The Clubs Perch River WMA Field Triphas beerescheduled for Saturday, August 20th. Onondaga Audubon offering a field trip to Perch River WMA on Saturday, August 27thFor details on the Audubon field trip: http://onondagaaudubon.com/

ANNUAL PICNIC:AT THE BROUSES

Sunday, July 10th -1:00 PM (rain or shine)

Dick and Marion Brouse have again generously offered tohost the Clubs annual picnic at their home on Hazelhurs

Avenue in Watertown. The property includes extensivelawns and gardens, woodlands, and a marsh along Kelsey

Creek, which flows through the grounds. As many Clubmembers are aware, a great variety of birds of all types findtheir way to the Brouses remarkable preserve.We will eat at 5:00 pm. You are invited to arrive at any timebetween 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm for birding and socializingPlease bring a dish to pass and a chair. Tableware andbeverages will be provided.

Hazelhurst Avenue runs eastward from Bradley St (NY 12)on the north side of Watertown, near the city line. TheBrouses is the last house on the street.

FIELD TRIP:MARLOW E CAMP(Beartown Road)

Saturday, July 23rd

Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart at 8:30 am

We will travel to Club President Corky Marlowescamp in the Town of Croghan for a second time thisseason. On this trip we will look for butterflies anddragonflies, as well as warblers and other songbirds.This is a moderate walk along a gravel road. Theevent will last into the afternoon and include lunch atthe camp. Please bring a dish to pass. Salad,dessert, and tableware will be provided.

FIELD TRIP:PERCH RIVER W MA

Saturday, August 20th

Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart -8:30 am

During late August, the public is allowed access trestricted areas of the Perch River WildlifManagement Area. Perch River WMA, located eigmiles north of Watertown, includes over 7800 acres owetland areas, woodlands, and fields, providing habitafor a wide variety of birds. We will spend a Saturdamorning taking advantage of this opportunity to bird areasoftheRefuge not normally accessible to us. Jous as we explore the largest WMA in Jefferson County

On occasion, we receive information that would most probably

be of interest to many members. However, knowing thatmembers have given us e-mail addresses specifically fordelivery of the Plover, the Editor has always made it a policy touse our e-mail list only for that purpose (and the very occasionalcancellation notice). Realizing that members may be interestedin receiving news between Plover issues about select sightingsand events, the Editor proposes to compile a second e-mail listfor that purpose. It would add an e-mail to your inbox no morethan weekly (and probably less often). Topics would includevery unusual sightings, very select events from other groups,and the occasional impromptu and unofficial field tripopportunity. Let the Editor know at [email protected] if youwould like your e-mail address added to this second list.


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WILSONSSNIPE

Vaadi Road

June 15, 2016

Photo byLynn

Chavoustie

For detailed info about birds,

visit the website of

the Cornell Ornithology Lab

and of Cornells renowned

Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary

at http://www.birds.cornell.edu

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INFORMATION SOURCES FOR REGIONAL SIGHTINGS

A list of birding organizations and list serves for New York (and other states) is available at http://www.virtualbirder.com/vbirder/Northern New York Birds List Serve: Subscribe at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Northern_NY_Birds .

Click on theJoin This Groupbutton and follow the on-screen instructions. (You will need to have or to set up a Y ahooaccount.Oneida Birds List Serve (sightings in Central New York): Subscribe at http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/Oneidabirds .Click on theJoin This Groupbutton and follow the on-screen instructions. (You will need to have or to set up a Y ahooaccount.

Cayuga Birds List Serve: Sightings of birds in the Finger Lakes Region with a focus on the Cayuga Lake Basin.E-mail [email protected]. In the message body put JOIN Your name (first and last name in quotes).

OFFICERS

President

Corky Marlowe 782-4705

Vice-President

Bill Haller 639-6848

Treasurer

Kathleen Killeen 646-6007

Secretary

Christine Bourquin 649-5403

DIRECTORSRichard Brouse To 5/2017

David Prosser To 5/2019

Mike Shepard To 5/2019

June Walker To 5/2017

Robert Walker To 5/2019

Field Trip Coordinator

Richard Brouse

788-6778

Census Coordinator


Historian

Robert Walker 649-2161

Newsletter Editor


A beautiful set of bird-themed notecards is given by random selection, each time

the Plover is issued, to a member of our Club whose dues are current, to provideextra incentive for members to keep memberships in good standing. We would liketo congratulate Linda Reichenbach of Watertown, selected as this issue s recipient.

Bring insect repellentandwateronall field trips.A field trip may be cancelled due to weatherconditions. Call Dick Brouse at 788-6778 with anyquestions about our field trips.

TREASURERS REPORT

from the May 11th Meeting

Checking account balance .... $1183.4

Savings account balance ...... $1777.1

Kathleen Killeen, TreasureForinfoonOnondagaAudubonfieldtrips&programs: http://onondagaaudubon.com/The Cornell Lab now offers

predict ions of b irdmigration patterns. Trackspring migrations through ourarea at http://birdcast.info

FIELD TRIP:MONTEZUMA NWR -SOUTHSaturday, September 17th

Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart -8:30 am

Our first trip to Montezuma this fall will include, along with the Refuge, the Seneca Meadows PreserveThe Preserve includes seven miles of trails (no, we wont be walking all of them) which extend throug600 acres of wetlands, fields, and wooded areas. This is an excellent location for shorebirdwaterfowl, and songbirds. We will have lunch at Wolffys, a favorite spot on the shore of Cayuga LakeReservations are requiredbefore or at the September 14 Club meeting.

FIELD TRIP:MONTEZUMA NWR -NORTHSaturday, October 15th

Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart

-8:30 am

On our second trip to Montezuma, we will visit the Montezuma Audubon Center and the MontezumaDEC headquarters, as well as the Refuge. All three locations offer a variety of waterbirds ansongbirds, with the Refuge an especially good place to see migrating waterfowl. We will stop fodinner in the Syracuse area on our way home. Reservations are required before or at thOctober 12 Club meeting.

This year we are planning two fall trips to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and nearby siteLocated at the northern end of Cayuga Lake, the Refuge includes over 8,000 acres of ponds, wetlandand woodlands. It is a major stopover for a great variety of migrating birds, especially waterfowl anshorebirds. Bald Eagles, Great Blue Heron, Great Egrets, and Sandhill Cranes are among the manspecies often sighted there. Also located in the region are an Audubon center, DEC sites, and thSeneca Meadows Preserve. We will be visiting at two different stages of the fall migratioconcentrating during the first trip on sites in the southern part of the area and on sites in the northerpart during the second. Each trip will include a visit to the Refuge itself. Join us for both trips to seemaximum variety of species (and to double the fun always a part of the Clubs field trips).

SAVANNAHSPARROW

Sackets

June 11, 2016

Photo byKathy Killeen

On The Web:

NORTH COUNTRYBIRD CLUB

ON FACEBOOK


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Information about programs of the Department of Environmental Conservation, conservation news, and regulation updates are distributed by targeted e-mail system. Subscribers select from 100+ topics. To subscribe:

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/NYSDEC/subscriber/new

BALD EAGLE WITHYOUNGChaumont - May 21, 2016Photo by Christine Bourquin

BALD EAGLE ON NESTChaumontMay 6, 2016

Photo by Christine Bourquin

ME, YOU, BIRDS, and CLIMATE CHANGE

Notes from a December 2015 Allegany County Bird Club program by Dr. Kim Bostwick

Aldo Leopold wrote, "We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity." Rachel Carson in "Silent Spring" stated, "We are a powerfforce; we can cause extinction. Our actions have consequences."

Birds are indicators. We, as birders residing in a rural area, see evidence of climate change every day. "Birds are effective messengefor talking about climate change in a concrete, but less threatening way." (Dickinson, 2009). Dr. Bostwick provided examples of waythat birds are already responding to climate change, such as shifting their range northward and changing migratory routes. Coastaspecies seem to be better able to track the weather changes and can usually adapt better than inland species.

Life on this planet is tuned to the Earth's rhythms, and some species adapt better than others. We need to own the problem and dsomething about it to protect what we love. We need to discover and embrace our personal place of power.

NORTH COUNTRY BIG DAY

Four teams participated in this years North Country Big Day, a new event for our Club. The event challenged each team to sight amany species as possible during a team-selected midnight-to-midnight 24-hour period in mid-May. A total of 127 species were reporteOf these, 20 were sighted by all four teams, 38 by only one of the teams. All four teams reported species not sighted by any other teamParticipants included Dick Brouse, Marion Brouse, Bill Haller, Jean Jacob, Ron Jacob, Corky Marlowe, Connie Mason, Irene MazzocchMike Shepard, Liz Truskowski, Hope VanBrocklin, and Jesse Warner. Those involved are reported to have very much enjoyed thexperience. We hope that even more teams will join in the challenge next year. The event is a most interesting, even inspiring, way put ones birding skills to the test and to come to appreciate the wide variety of bird species which can be found in the North Country.

The most species were reported this year by the team of Irene Mazzocchi, Liz Truskowski, Hope VanBrocklin, and Jesse Warner. Thesighted 104 species in 24 hours, a truly big Big Day. Their list included 19 species not reported by any other team. We congratulatthese expert birders on their excellent results.Species List ( reported by only one team/ reported by all four teams): **Canada Goose, *Snow Goose, *Mute Swan, Trumpeter SwaMallard, *Red-breasted Merganser, *Common Merganser, Wood Duck, *Long-tailed Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Tea*American Wigeon, Lesser Scaup, **Wild Turkey, *Ruffed Grouse, *Common Loon, *Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Hero

American Bittern, *Black-crowned Night Heron, **Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, *Sharp-shinned HawAmerican Kestrel, Common Gallinule, *American Coot, Killdeer, American Woodcock, *Wilsons Snipe, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, *LesseYellowlegs, *Semipalmated Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, **Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Caspian Tern, Black Tern, **Mourning Dove, RocPigeon, Whip-poor-will, *Common Nighthawk, *Chimney Swift, **Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Belted Kingfishe*Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, *Least Flycatcher, Willow FlycatcheWarbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, *Yellow-throated Vireo, **Blue Jay, **American Crow, *Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Bank SwallowPurple Martin, *Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow, *Horned Lark, **Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, *Red-breaste

Nuthatch, House Wren, Marsh Wren, **American Robin, Wood Thrush, *Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, *Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Gray CatbirdBrown Thrasher, **European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Scarlet Tanager, OvenbirdBlack-and-White Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, *Prairie Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, *Northern Waterthrus*Black-throated Green Warbler, *Pine Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, *Nashville Warbler, *Northern Parula, **Northern Cardinal, **SonSparrow, **Chipping Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, White-crowned Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, *Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, FieSparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, *Grasshopper Sparrow, **Red-winged Blackbird, **Common Grackl**Brown-headed Cowbird, **Baltimore Oriole, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, *Rusty Blackbird, **American Goldfinch, *House Finch, *Purple Finc*Pine Siskin, **House Sparrow

The Bald Eagles nest near Chaumont, whichwas first located on April 7 by ChristineBourquin, the Clubs Secretary, saw the arrivalof two young in mid-May. While the parentswere still on the nest in early May (see photo at

left), the nestlings were easily visible by thetime the photo at right was taken on May 21.Young Bald Eagles grow very rapidly, attainingfull size in less than four months, and fledgingat about the same age. However, the familiarplumage of the mature Bald Eagle does notappear until the fifth year. We thank Christinefor these excellent photos and, mostespecially, for sharing the discovery of this nestand helping to see that it was protected.


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BLUE / GOLDEN-WINGED(HYBRID)WARBLER

Fort DrumMay 12, 2016

Photos by Sarah Shute

KILLDEER MOTHER ON NESTPerch River WMAMay 12, 2016

Photos by Linnea Rowse

Linnea Rowse, a Club member and Audubon New Yorks field conservationist in charge of the Golden-winged Warbler Restoration Project in our arejoined with fellow Audubon staff member Sarah Shute to take part in this years Audubon Birdathon, a Big Day event to raise funds for Auduboprograms in New York. In the course of the day, Linnea and Sarah sighted 113 species, a remarkable number, more than meeting their goal ofhundred-species day. Along the way, the team had a number of interesting experiences, detailed in the report below. Linnea would like to offer sincethanks to Club members who contributed to the Birdathon in her name, as well as to those who shared tips on where to find less common species. Woffer our sincerest thanks to Linnea for sharing her Birdathon Report, along with photos and a species list, for inclusion in the Plover. Enjoy!

AUDUBONBIRDATHON REPORTMay 12, 2016Linnea Rowse, Field Conservation/Project Specialist - Audubon New York

Birdathon Team Members: Linnea Rowse and Sarah Shute, Audubon New York

Sarah Shute and I began our birding day in Watertown, picking up a few feeder birds. We then met Jeff Bolsinger at Fort Drum at 6:15amin a shrubby field area. There, we heard the morning chorus, finding birds such as American Redstart, Chestnut-sided Warbler, PrairWarbler, and also heard many forest birds. At this location, we spent a few hours trying to mist net and capture one specific hybrVermivora (Golden-winged Warbler x Blue-winged Warbler it had plumage traits of an introgressed Brewsters Warbler), one that hacarried a geolocator unit for the past year as part of a Cornell Lab of Ornithology research project. Sarah and I succeeded in thiendeavor: we caught the hybrid warbler and recovered the geolocator unit. Some other highlight birds from this location included a fly-b

American Bittern, a fly-by Green Heron, Purple Finch, and many newly returned songbird migrants!

Moving on, having spent the bulk of the prime time for bird song in one location, we scurried to collect the relatively common birds we stneeded. Sarah and I drove to Perch River Wildlife Management Area, picking up many grassland birds, wetland and marsh birds. We rainto Dick and Marion Brouse on the south side of Perch River WMA, and while birding with them, found a Spotted Sandpiper, KilldeeSemipalmated Plover, and got a tip for where to find a Solitary Sandpiper down the road (which we found!).

Sarah and I continued on the Allen Road at Perch River WMA, looking out over the lower pools. At one pull off parking area, wunknowingly stood by a Killdeer sitting on her nest for about 5 minutes before she made herself known (at which point we backed off anleft the parking area)! See attached picture of this Killdeer, taken quickly as we hurried out of her way.

Eileen Wheeler scouted birds for us at Indian Creek Nature Center thanks, Eileen! We made a decision to continue birding in JeffersoCounty since we had seen most of the birds she found there, and had a few closer locations to check for rarities like Cerulean Warbler.

We birded briefly at the Ashland Flats WMA pool, finding a few additional waterfowl, Black Terns, and a Wilsons Snipe.

Finally, Sarah and I birded at Grand Lakes Reserve, the Indian River Lakes Conservancy property on Burns Road, in Redwood. Highlighthere included Golden-winged Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, a close-up Hermit Thrush, and a few other needed species like NortherWaterthrush. We finished up the day just after sunset at the nearby Lake-of-the-Woods fishing access/boat launch site, where we founthe resident pair of Common Loons, but missed the Winter Wren we had heard a few days prior. Driving back to Watertown, we heard Whippoorwill and an American Woodcock.

Overall, we found 113 bird species, many seen and some heard only.It was a great day, many birds and the bonus of recovering ageolocator! We also saw a nice variety of reptiles and amphibians, aswell as many spring wildflowers.

Birdathon Species List: Common Loon, Pied-billed Greb

Double-crested Cormorant, American Bittern, Great Blue Heron, GreeHeron, Turkey Vulture, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Trumpeter SwanWood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Blue-winged TeaNorthern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Greater ScaupOsprey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Broad-wingeHawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Common MoorheAmerican Coot, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Solitary Sandpiper, SpotteSandpiper, Wilson's Snipe, American Woodcock, Ring-billed Gull, HerrinGull, Caspian Tern, Black Tern, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Barred OwWhip-poor-will, Chimney Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied WoodpeckeYellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, PileateWoodpecker, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested FlycatcheEastern Kingbird, Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Blue JayAmerican Crow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Bank Swallow, Barn Swallow

Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, House Wren, Marsh WreBlue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Wood ThrusAmerican Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, European StarlinBlue-winged Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Yellow WarbleChestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated GreeWarbler, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Palm Warbler, Cerulean WarbleBlack-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, NortherWaterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern TowheChipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, GrasshoppeSparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated SparrowWhite-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern CardinaRose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Bobolink, Red-winged BlackbirEastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, BaltimorOriole, Purple Finch, House Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow


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Upper & Lower Lakes WMA Field Trip - May 7: On Saturday, May 7, 11 members ofNCBC travelled to the Upper and Lower Lakes WMA near Canton. It was a sunny day,with temperatures in the mid-60s. The WMA, the largest in our region, includes the IndianCreek Nature Center, with trails and boardwalks across wetlands and through woodlands.

28 species were observed during our visit. We saw Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard,Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Ring-billed Gull, Common Tern, Downy Woodpecker, EasternPhoebe, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, House Wren, American

Robin, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow,Dark-eyed Junco, and Red-winged Blackbird. We heard Barred Owl, Warbling Vireo,White-breasted Nuthatch, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Ovenbird,White-throated Sparrow, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Our visit to this excellent facilityon a beautiful spring day was both enjoyable and productive.

Red Lake Field Trip - May 21:On Saturday, May 21, 10 members of NCBC joined in the Clubs annual trip to Red Lake, outside of TheresThe day was partly sunny, with temperatures around 70 degrees. This visit has been a much-anticipated event on the Clubs fieldtrip calendfor a very long time. In recent years, the trip has included a visit to Cottage Hill Road, a key location for Golden-winged Warblers in our area.

51 species were observed during the trip, by far the greatest number recorded on this trip in the past five years (the next greatest number ovethat time period was 31 species). We saw Canada Goose, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, American Kestrel, CaspiaTern, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher, Great-cresteFlycatcher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Tree Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Robi

Gray Catbird, Golden-winged Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, American RedstarScarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Brown-headed CowbirBaltimore Oriole, and American Goldfinch. We heard Wood Duck, Black-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Phoebe, Blue-headed Vireo, Warbling VireBlack-capped Chickadee, Wood Thrush, Blue-winged Warbler, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern TowheeChipping Sparrow, and Eastern Meadowlark. Two Red Admiral butterflies were also sighted.

The trip included our usual lunch stop at Coopers Corners, where we always have a fine meal, good conversation, and much hilarity.

FIELD TRIP REPORTS

Limerick Cedars Field Trip - May 25:On the evening of Wednesday, May 25, 10 members of NCBC gathered along the Ransom Road in thLimerick Cedars. Skies were clear, with temperatures in the mid-60s. This location is an excellent place tohear Whip-poor-wills in the sprinand summer, and we were not disappointed in that regard. 18 species were observed during our visit: Canada Goose, American WoodcocRing-billed Gull, Whip-poor-will, Northern Flicker, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown ThrasheBlue-winged Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, and FieSparrow. The Cedars once again proved to be a charming setting in which to watch the Sun set on a beautiful spring evening.

Chaumont Barrens Field Trip - June 4: On Saturday, June 4, 7 members of NCBC walked the trail through the Nature ConservancyPreserve at the Chaumont Barrens. A clear sky and temperatures around 70 degrees helped to make this a very pleasant morning walk.

29 species were observed during our visit: Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Mourning Dove, Whip-poor-will, Eastern Wood-PeweeGreat-crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, House Wren, Wood Thrush, American RobiBrown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Blue-winged Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, AmericaRedstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Rose-breasted GrosbeakBrown-headed Cowbird, and American Goldfinch. We also found abundant Prairie Smoke and several clusters of Lady Slippers, confirming threputation of the Barrens as a site where uncommon wildflowers can be found.

A highlight of the trip was the chance discovery of a Whip-poor-wills nest along the trail. The mother bird flew away and disappeared into thwoods as we approached, but the eggs were readily visible from the trail (see pictures and article below).

An excellent lunch at the Blue Heron in Chaumont (could there be a more appropriate place for a bird club to eat?) concluded a most enjoyabday of birding. [ Field Trip Reports continue on the following page]

WHIP-POOR-WILL EGGSChaumont BarrensJune 4, 2016

Photo by Kathy Killeen

HOUSE WRENUpper & Lower Lakes WMAMay 7, 2016


The nesting habits of Whip-poor-wills are related to the LunarCycle. To have sufficient time to obtain the food required byhatchlings, the parents need plentiful moonlight, enablingthem to hunt through the night. For this reason,Whip-poor-will eggs hatch ten days before a Full Moon.Since Junes Full Moon occurred on June 20, the eggs in thenest at Chaumont Barrens should have hatched on June 10,six days after they were seen during the Clubs field trip.Visiting the Barrens on June 21 and knowing the location ofthe nest, Lee Ellsworth was able to photograph the motherWhip-poor-will (at right), presumably now caring for hernestlings. The Editor wishes to thank June Walker forsharing this intriguing information about Whip-poor-wills.

WHIP-POOR-WILLChaumont BarrensJune 21, 2016

Photo by Lee Ellsworth


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FUERTES PAINTINGFrom the State Museum in Albany

Published in Birds of America, 1917

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

NORTHERN CARDINAL

First Beartown Field Trip - June 25:On Saturday, June 25, 13 members of NCBC journeyed to Club President Corky Marlowes camp oBeartown Road in the Town of Croghan. This was the first of two Club trips to this bird-rich woodland location on this seasonsschedule. Skiewere clear, with temperatures rising into the 80s as we birded during the morning and early afternoon.

We observed 32 species during our outing: Ruffed Grouse, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Ruby-throateHummingbird, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Alder Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Great-crested Flycatcher, Blue-headed VireoRed-eyed Vireo, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, Veery, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird, CedaWaxwing, Golden-winged Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Pine Warbler, Black-and-WhitWarbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, and White-crowned Sparrow.

As usual, we enjoyed a delicious (and very filling) lunch following our birding, with a variety of excellent dishes prepared by members of th

Club. Our thanks go out to Corky for once again hosting a memorable event at her beautiful retreat in the Lewis County woodlands.

Henderson Historical Society Bird Walk at Southwicks Beach - May 14: TheHenderson Historical Society, which offers a wide variety of programs to its members,invited Dick Brouse, our Clubs Field Trip Coordinator, to lead a bird walk this spring atSouthwicks Beach State Park. The walk was subsequently scheduled for Saturday, May14, which proved to be a very pleasant spring day. Seventeen participants, including Dickand three other members of the Club, joined that morning to walk the woodland nature trailwhich begins and ends at the access road to the park.

Highlights of the sightings that morning included Coopers Hawk, Great-crested Flycatcher,Blue Jay, Common Raven, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, GrayCatbird, Yellow Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, CommonYellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, and Baltimore Oriole.

Dick was, as always, an excellent guide and leader. The people from Henderson weremost appreciative, not only for the variety of beautiful birds which Dick helped them to spot,but also, perhaps moreso, for the insight they gained into the truly inspirational nature ofthe birding experience. Dick was immediately asked to repeat this event next year (it willmost probably be a co-event for the Historical Society and our Club). We offer sincerethanks to the Societys Elaine Scott for organizing this event, for her enthusiastic support ofour work, and for again inviting the Club to be a part of Henderson Heritage Days this year.Join us at the Henderson Museum on Saturday, August 13, for this very entertaining event.

DICK BROUSELEADING THE WALK

Southwicks

May 14, 2016

Photo by Elaine Scott

ON THE TRAILSouthwicks

May 14, 2016

Photo by Elaine Scott

SNOW GEESE IN JUNE?Three Mile BayJune 15, 2016 Photos by Lynn Chavoustie

Last year biologists from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology banded 25Golden-winged Warblers, Blue-winged Warblers, and hybrids in JeffersonCounty with the following combination: an aluminum (silver) band on the leftleg and a red band on the right leg. If you see one of these birds, pleaseforward date, time, and location of your sighting to Jeff Bolsinger, biologist atFort Drum, at [email protected].

On the afternoon of Monday, June 13, while passing through Three Mile Bay on a birdingtrip, Corky Marlowe, Kathy Killeen, and Bill Haller spotted two Snow Geese at the villagesBoat Launch. The two appeared to be a parent and a juvenile. While Bill had seen SnowGeese along Smith Road as late as May 18, this mid-June sighting seemed highlyunusual. On Wednesday, June 15, Bill returned to find the birds still there, and seemingly

unconcerned by the people and traffic around them. Late that afternoon, Lynn Chavoustievisited the Boat Launch and took the photos above. She suggested that the reason forthe presence of the geese might be found in the photo on the right: the juvenile appears tohave no primary feathers on the right wing, which would, of course, severely restrict abilityto fly and make migration impossible. Perhaps the parent remained in an attempt to carefor the young bird. By the end of the week, the two had disappeared from the area.


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We begin this article with a most interesting sighting that was inadvertently left out of our previous issue. OnMarch 20, while rounding Three Mile Point, Lynn Chavoustie reported seeing eight Bald Eagles in trees and onthe ice along the north side of the point, a truly remarkable gathering of a species very rare not so long ago.

One exciting aspect of this time of year, of course, is the regular report of first sightings of birds returning to ourarea for the spring season. Kezia Sullivan reported Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers inSackets on April 30, then two male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds there on May 8 (Happy Mothers Day!). OnMay 9, Kezia reported two male Baltimore Orioles, as well as Yellow Warblers, Warbling Vireos, and more

Yellow-rumped Warblers, and, on May 13, a Northern Mockingbird, all in Sackets.On April 25, Corky Marlowe and Bill Haller sighted several Purple Martins at the Isthmus. On the afternoon of

April 29, Corky and Bil l were birding with Dick and Marion Brouse. The four sighted two Brown Thrashers andan American Kestrel along the Ransom Road. That evening, Bill heard Whip-poor-wills for the first time thisseason, and American Woodcocks calling, also along the Ransom Road. On May 1, Corky and Bill heard aField Sparrow there. That morning, a Red-bellied Woodpecker visited Bills feeders in Dexter. On May 8, Corkyand Bill heard a Wood Thrush at Perch River WMA and sighted an Eastern Meadowlark from Dog Hill Road,where they also watched a male Northern Harrier flying over the fields. On May 9, they sighted a White-crowned Sparrow at Corkys home in GlePark, an Eastern Kingbird along the Cook Road, and Barn Swallows on Pillar Point, all FOS. That same day, their sightings included a pair Trumpeter Swans, a Belted Kingfisher, American Wigeon, and a Ring-necked Duck, all at Perch River WMA. On May 12, Dick and Marion sighteBank Swallows in Limerick, the first reported this season. On May 15, Corky and Bill sighted their first Eastern Bluebirds for the season along thSmith Road. On the same day, they last saw three Snow Geese along the road which had been sighted several times in early May. Bill found onSnow Goose there on May 18. On that same day, Norma Dobbins reported flocks of Snow Geese near her home in Honeyville. These were the la

reported for the season until the sightings in Three Mile Bay detailed on the previous page.Doris Gibson reported a number of sightings during May from her home on Keyser Road and from the surrounding area. On May 6, Doris sighted Redhead in Pamelia. On May 8, while at Perch Lake, she sighted several Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Yellow Warbler, a Yellow-bellied Sapsuckethree Pileated Woodpeckers, and a Blue-winged Teal. On the same day, Doris saw a Great Blue Heron and Tree Swallows at her home. On May she sighted a Wood Duck at Perch Lake, and Bobolinks and a pair of Trumpeter Swans at Perch River WMA. Again visiting Perch Lake on May 1Doris sighted a pair of Scarlet Tanagers, a Magnolia Warbler, a Downy Woodpecker, and a Red-tailed Hawk. At her home that day, she saw Baltimore Oriole, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, a White-crowned Sparrow, an Eastern Phoebe, a White-breasteNuthatch, and a Chipping Sparrow. On May 12, Doris reported that her niece, Janet Montford, had seen an Eastern Wood Pewee at her home Sackets, where she also regularly sees Red-bellied Woodpeckers. On May 17, Doris reported having sighted an Eastern Meadowlark and a BrowThrasher at Perch Lake, as well as a Gray Catbird and a Belted Kingfisher at her home. On May 30, Doris sighted an Upland Sandpiper at Theresand three Pied-billed Grebes and a Common Tern at Goose Bay.

On June 6, Corky and Bill were birding on Vaadi Road, where they found Dick and Marion parked near a roadside wetland. The Brouses had foundVirginia Rail, and the four watched the bird moving stealthily through the reeds for several minutes. While there, they also heard a Black-billed Cucko

and sighted nine Black-crowned Night Herons flying overhead.On June 18, guided by a report from Dick and Marion, Bill sighted an Upland Sandpiper near Gunns Corners. This was a life bird for Bill. Thanks the Brouses, he has finally seen the bird for which this newsletter, which he has edited for five years, is named (the speci es was designated UplanPlover at the time of the newsletters first issues over a half-century ago). On that same evening, Bill sighted eight Cedar Waxwings in a tree along thRansom Road, a charming conclusion to a great day of birding.

We conclude this article with two especially interesting items, one particularly noteworthy and with significance well outside of our area, the other aintriguing account of a bird with a nest in a very perilous location.

On June 7, Irene Mazzocchi, who supervises the WMAs in DECs Region 6 (and is a member of our Club), reported that a pair of nesting PipinPlovers had returned to Lakeview WMA for the second year, and the Plovers nest contained two eggs. Piping Plovers are a threatened species thare considered endangered (in danger of becoming extinct) in the Great Lakes region. This is the first recorded breeding pair of Piping Plovers alonthe shores of Eastern Lake Ontario in decades, exciting news for those seeking to prevent the loss of this species from the Great Lakes.

On May 30, Bill was birding at Perch River WMA. At a parking area, he encountered a mother Killdeer whwas not at all pleased by his presence, as she had placed a nest virtually in the exact center of the parkinareas gravel. Leaving quietly (and quickly), Bill, worried about the nests highly vulnerable locatioreturned with Corky on the following evening (Memorial Day). Corky called Irene Mazzocchi from the sito let her know of the nests precarious situation. Irene asked her to circle the nest with rocks. She wousend out a DEC crew the next day to set up a more visible and protective indication of the nests positio

As the mother Killdeer made every attempt to lure her away from the nest, which contained four eggCorky marked its location. The DEC then marked the nest with traffic cones and flags. Mother Killdecontinued to sit contentedly on her eggs for several weeks, as Bill and Corky checked the site regularfrom the road. On June 24, Bill found the mother still on the nest. However, when he returned on thevening of June 25, the nest was empty. Scanning the parking area, Bill sighted the mother some six fefrom the nest, three little Killdeer around her (there may have been a fourth - the scrub grass in the graveprevented a clear view). The young were not of the fuzzy-little-duckling variety, but looked like tiny matubirds, with the mother, identical in appearance, looming over them. It was an unforgettable sight. Corkand Bill checked the site again on June 26. Mother and young, as expected, were nowhere to be found.

NORTH COUNTRY BIRD CLUB SIGHTINGSPlease forward notable sightings for the next issue by August 15, using the contact info on the last page.

YELLOW WARBLERSacketsJune 11, 2016


GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERMannsvilleMay 24, 2016

Photo by Diona Naklick


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T

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CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERChaumont BarrensJune 15, 2016

Photo by Lynn Chavoustie

upland plover july-august 2016

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